The seven clubs who requested FIFA's intervention to ensure a vote of no confidence in the EFA's board is held infuriate the Association, which resorts to the old accusation that such action harms Egypt's reputation The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has condemned a letter sent by local clubs to the international governing body of football (FIFA) in protest against the EFA's decision to call off an extraordinary general assembly. A vote of confidence in the EFA's board was to be held at the meeting. Presidents of seven second and third divisions clubs, including Al-Nasr, Tanta, Al-Wasta, El-Badrashein, El-Sinbellawein and Bella, signed the letter addressed to FIFA in which they also requested that FIFA monitor the next board elections. “The EFA firmly condemned this letter because it negatively affects Egypt's reputation, economy and tourism,” the Association announced in a statement through their official website on Wednesday. The clubs claim that they are entitled to call for an extraordinary general assembly without an invitation from the association as they have the support of 50 per cent plus one of its members, as stipulated by article 28, paragraph 2 of FIFA's regulations. “We request FIFA the presence of an observer and enforce the decisions taken,” the seven clubs wrote in English to FIFA, adding “We also request you to approve that non confidence voting of the board of directors appearing in the agenda shall be in secret ballots of the election [sic].” The Association replied to the letter with their own to the international body in which it guaranteed to “reveal all the truth” and informed FIFA that “the situation is settled in Egypt is without any crisis” as a fire-back to what they called “incomprehensible statements” in the clubs' letter. The first letter had referred to “the unsettled situation and financial crisis after the 25 January revolution.” The protest against the EFA also includes the Egyptian game's big guns with the popular Cairo-based club, Zamalek, who are currently second in the Premier League table, accusing the EFA board of “oppression” last month, describing their decisions as “a failure to satisfyingly manage” the Egyptian game after bad refereeing calls in their 1-0 round-23 defeat against Maqassa. Ismaily also threatened to join the clubs calling for a no vote of confidence and withdrawing from the league due to what they called "biased refereeing" following their 1-0 loss to El-Geish. The two clubs often complains that Ahly, Egypt's most popular club, are favoured by football authorities. The regime of EFA President Samir Zaher is coming under threat from the country's revolutionary forces. Many coalitions that came to light after the 18-day uprising that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak have agreed to hold a meeting with the Egyptian Revolutionary Alliance to discuss the “revolutionary demands within the sport,” calling for the ousting of Mubarak-appointed EFA board.
